First in utero bone-marrow transplantationThis plastic hospital ID bracelet belonged to five-month-old Taylor Dahley, who in February 1995 became the world's first recipient of an in utero bone-marrow transplant. During the first trimester of his mother's pregnancy, doctors discovered that Taylor suffered from Severe Combined Immune Deficiency, a rare blood disorder that had killed his infant brother two years earlier. Soon after the discovery, doctors at Detroit Medical Center began a three-phase transplant of bone-marrow cells from Taylor's father. Using ultrasound, they inserted a long needle into both the mother's and the baby's abdomens. Then they released the father's healthy cells into Taylor's abdominal cavity, where the cells were absorbed into his system. Two weeks later, doctors proclaimed the as-yet unborn baby cured.

Notes

Gift of Heather Dahley, 1999

6" long x 1-3/4" wide

The transplantation technique is applicable to about 100 genetic conditions.